14th October, 2017
Photo: BBC/AFP
Manchester United keeper David de Gea produced a world-class save to deny Joel Matip as Liverpool were frustrated by Jose Mourinho’s stubborn side at Anfield for the second successive season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side peppered the United goal with 19 shots but a combination of outstanding goalkeeping by Spain keeper De Gea and the home team’s poor finishing denied them a decisive moment.
The German’s men were in control of the game for long periods but their profligacy in front of goal means they have now won just once in eight games.
The most noteworthy incident of an uneventful first half was De Gea denying Cameroon defender Matip from close range with a brilliant reflex save with his outstretched left boot, before Mohamed Salah fired the rebound wide.
United offered very little quality in attack although De Gea’s counterpart Simon Mignolet had to smartly parry Romelu Lukaku’s fierce attempt before the interval.
BBC reports that Liverpool dominated even more after half-time but Emre Can wasted their best chance when he volleyed over the bar from eight yards after being picked out by the impressive Joe Gomez’s precise cross.
The point was enough to take United – with nine clean sheets in their past 10 league games – to the top of the table, one point ahead of Manchester City, who host Stoke City at 15:00 BST.
Lukaku fails big test
Lukaku started the day as the Premier League’s leading scorer yet, not for the first time, he failed to deliver against Liverpool.
The powerful Belgium striker registered a shot on target – something he had not done in five of his past seven meetings against the Reds – when his compatriot Mignolet beat away his stinging first-half shot in front of The Kop.
But this was largely a game to forget for the former Everton striker, who lacked the sharpness that had helped him to seven goals in his first seven league games for United.
Lukaku managed just one touch in the opening 23 minutes and his frustration seemed to take over when he clattered into Matip and then his left foot appeared to catch Dejan Lovren – although he escaped a yellow card on both occasion.
He ended the match with 22 touches, which was reflective of his own subdued performance as well as the modest attacking ambition shown by his team-mates as United’s six-match winning run came to an end.